Mouth prop for dentists



June 17 1924.

. 1,498,219 J. A. WILLIAMS mourn PROP FOR DENTISTS- Filed Dec. 22- 1922 INVENTOR 3 ATTORNEY Patented June 17,1924.

UNITED STATES JOHN A. WILLIAMS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

MOUTH PRO]? FOR DENTISTS.

Application filed December 22, 1922. Serial No. 608,531.

To alZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. VVILLIAMs, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mouth Props for Dentists, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mouth props for dentists use in the filling of teeth, and the objects thereof are: First, to provide a device for holding the jaws of a patient apart that will remain in position when placed between the upper and lower rows of teeth, notwithstanding any shifting movement of the lower jaw that may occur; second, to provide in conjunction with the prop an expedient for holding cotton rolls adjacent each side of the teeth so as to hold the cheek and tongue from contact therewith; and third, to provide in con junction with the prop a means for reflecting light upon the teeth during operations thereon.

These objects are accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a prop em bodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same in central section; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the prop including several cotton rolls attached thereto.

The characters appearing in the description refer to parts shown in the drawings and designated thereon by corresponding characters.

The invention comprises a frame 1 having parallel sides 2 spaced apart and a forwardly overhanging top 3 that is longitudinally grooved to form a seat for the teeth. In connection with the bottom 4- of the frame is forwardly extending loop 5 shaped so as to straddle the teeth of the row opposite those that bear in the grooved top. The sides 6 of the loop extend horizontally in a plane lower than the bottom 4 and the front end of the loop 5 so that when the device is in place in the mouth, the sides of the teeth, straddled by the loop, will be ex light upon the teeth that are exposed within,

the loop.

The top 3 has in connection therewith along each side thereof a prong 8 that is attached rigidly to the top near its front end, and extends rearwardly along the adjacent side of the top. Also, the loop has in connection therewith along each side thereof a prong 9 that is attached rigidly to the loop near its front end and extends rearwardly along the adjacent side of the loop. Upon each of these prongs is placed a cotton roll 10 by slipping the roll endwise onto the prong. The prongs are slightly curved so as to normally bear against the adjacent sides of the prop, and thus the I rolls are held from slipping out of place.

In utilizing the invention the prop is set between the upper and lower jaws of the patient so that the teeth of one jaw will bear in the grooved end of the prop, while the teeth of the opposite jaw are straddled by the loop. While the jaws are thus held apart light directed into the mouth will be reflected by the mirror onto the teeth exposed within the loop, which thus increases their visibility.

When the teeth of the upper jaw are to be operated upon, the prop is inverted so that the upper teeth rest in the loop.

lVhat I claim is 1. A mouth prop comprising a frame having an overhanging grooved top and a forwardly extending loop at its bottom; a mirror positioned in the frame so as to reflect light toward the opening in the loop; a prong on each side of the grooved top extending parallel with the adjacent side.

thereof; a prong on each side of the loop extending parallel with the adjacent ex terior side thereof; and a cotton roll held by each of said prongs.

2. A mouth prop comprising a vertically disposed frame; a horizontally disposed loop extending forwardly from one end of the frame; a mirror positioned in the frame so and means for holding a cotton roll along as to reflect light toward the opening in the each exterior side of the loop. 10 loop; a prong on each side of the loop ex- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature tending along the adjacent exterior side in presence of two Witnesses. thereof. JOHN A. WILLIAMS.

3. A mouth prop comprising a flflll'lQhELV- \Vitnesses: ing a grooved seat at one end and a. for MEATILDA, METTLER, wardlyaprojectingloop at its opposite end; VVALTER G. BURNS. 

